Loose-leaf binder.



H. B. BRISTOL. LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLIUATION FILED 11011.11. 1910.

Patented 11111111.14,

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Av1 1111. v,l

11.11.11-- Jnnm..

1... 11.1.111u 1T 1 .1..nhu1111 1.1111 u bum." u.

IN VEN TOR.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY.

m: Noms Ferry.; ca, wnsnmcrcm, u. c.

' H. B. BRISTOL LOOSE LEAF BINDER. nrLmATIon FILED 1rov.11. 191o.

M u M m W..

IN VE TOR. 'Ha/*Old BBP/sfo!- WITNESSES.-

A TTolcNEY.

THE Nonms PETERS ca., wAsHINnroN, n. c.

H. B. BRISTOL.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLIG'ATION FILED Nov. 11. 1910.

986,542, 1 Patented 11131111911.

` YESHEBTs-snmtra. E /a f 1Q A F 1======L l L 1 1 1- l 1 fbi-- 10 l :m

/i z ii y 5 a .D

b' ii a ll 111111111111111, I E Igl D l. o f l /73 E lg- Il- I N VEN TOR.

1H: N onms PETERS co., wAsmIycroNfn. c.

H. B. BRISTOL. LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

, i APPLIOATIOI FILED NOV. 11,v 1910.

936,542, y Patented Mar; 14, '1911...

'1 allure-Bunn.

NIV

Vga- @EL HE Hamill PH'IRJ ca.. wAsmNGroN. D. a4

E. B.- BRISTOL. Lpos LEAP BINDER. APPIfIOATIOE FILED NOV. 11, 1910.

Patented Mar-.14,1911..

'I SHEETS-SHEET 5.

IN'VENTOI?. Ham/d BBN 5to! ATTORNEY.'

WITNESSES.- /fffe H. B. BRISTOL. LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLIoATxoN FILED nov.11, 1910.

Patented 111211214, 1911. 7 .SHEETS-$111121' e.

WITNESSES: #Mfg 5k M L 0 RW. y. 0( E Tf N N5 R 5 m5 m Z l T I/ A m Q d Q H o W 1HE NaRRls PETERs 0.. wAsHINaToN, D. c.

H. B. BRISTOL.

LOGSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 11, 1910.

Patented Manu, 1911.

7 sums-SHEET v.

, HI 0' @i @ILE 'mi IN VENTQR, Haro/d 5-5/15201' WITNESSES* ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. f. HAR-01u13. `v-Bnis'ron OF MAPLEWOOD, MissOURI.

v. V i I# LOOSE-ninas BINDER. y

Tom/fl -wzomt't'ma'g concern:v 1

Be it known that'I, HAROLD B. BRISTOL,

citizen of 'the United States, `residing at Maple'\ vood, in the county of St. 4Louisl and State ot'Missouri,` have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Loose-Leaf Bmders7 of which the following is a"full,

clear, and exactfdescription, referen'cebeing had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention `has -relation to ini-prove? ments in loose-leaf binders; and it Consists in the novel details of construct-ion more iully vset lforth in the speciication and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, -Figure lis a pl'an view of the binder in its closed position,4 broken at an interniediate point along the length of the covers,` parts being removed to expose the interior structural' detailsg`Fig. y2 isan edge view looking through theopen frontof the same (the-leaves being'removed); Fig. 3 is aV bottom end viewlwith leaves in position and `with parts oftheouterleather (or equivalent) cover removed; Eig. 4 "is a top end view with leaves removed; Fig. 5 an `enlarged"section on the broken line `of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 isanenlarged sectional detail on the line G--G ofFig.' 1; Fig.

T is an enlarged sectional detailon the line 7-7 of Fig.l 1; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sec` tional detail on' the hne`3-48 of Fig. 1; Fig.

t) is a plan of one-half of the met-allic stiff-- ening member entering into the construct-ion of each of the coversof the binder;` Fig.A 10 is a vsectional detail' on'the line 10-'10 of Fig. 9; Fig; 11 is-a` sectional' detail on the line 11-11 of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 `is a sectional detail taken through one of the leaf-'carrying anchors and covers adjacent thereto `on theliue 12-12 of Fig. 5; Fig. 13-is a top plan of the'anchoryFig; 14 'is an end view thereof; Fig. 15is a lface elevation thereof; Fig. 16 is an edge view rof one foi-molt' locking key for the leavescarriedby the anchors; Fig. 17 isan end view of said key; Fig. 18 is a plan of said'key;'Fig. 19 isfa faceview of a pair of brackets carried `bythe backof the binder and between which theanchor` is secured; Figf20 is' across-sectionon the line 20-20 of Fig; 19; Eig; 21 a face viewof a yportion of one of the' longitudinal stien ing plates connecting the ends *of the series of anchors and protectingthe anchoredends of the leaves from direct contact with the covers; Fig22 isa topviewxof the bottom Specification f Letters Patent. Patented Mar.` 14;"11911. Application inea November 11, 1910. serial No. 591,820.

stitfening bracket secured to the back binder;-Fig. 23 is aview at right anglesto Fig. 22;F ig. 24is anenlarged detailshow-` ing a top plan of one of the covers. .hinged to the fback, swung to and locked man open` iposition; Fig. 25 is aview at right angles to;

Fig.. 24; Fig. 26is a detached viewofthe f `the :locking mehanism for the cover` (in `its openilposition); Fig.27 is a plan of a por-. tion .of one of the` leaves showing manner of= attaching the same to the anchors; Fig.`

y28 is :a face View of airanchor `showing means ffor receiving a modiedorm of key l for holding the longitudinal stitfening. plates iin. position; Fig.\29 is an end viewof Eig.`

key; vFig; 31` is aside viewof Fig. y30 with 23; Fig. A30 is a face view of the modified parts in section; Fig. 32 isia face view. of a' i still .further modification of :anchor and lkey Xtherefor; F 1g. 33 1s an end view of Fig;

32-withkey however, omitted; F ig. 34.*,is a. face-'view of a portion of one of the longitudmal leaf-protectmgand stniening plates `showing a notched opening to receiveV the jtongueiof the modified form ofkey sho-wn Jin Eig. 32; Fig. -35 `is an enlarged sideview 'of the'key shown in Fig.i32;Fig. 36 isa y face view of said key; Fig. 37 is a sectional ldetaill on :line 37-37- of Fig. 36; Fig...3S is a sectional detailon the line7 38--38 of;

Fig. 35; Fig. 391 is a sectionaldetail on the order of Fig. 5 showing a springfollower 5 or take-up forthe leaves;-Fig. 401s an edge viewl of the take-up, parts :being {rbroken awaygiFig. 41 isa face view ofthe .take-upv or follower; lFig. 42 is a` face view of a spacing strip adapted to 4be interposedbetween the leaves;-and Fig. 43 is: an; edge view ofsaid spacing strip. f. v t "Ifheobject of my invent-1011 l1s to construct a: loose-leaf binder (primarilyl intended ,for sheet music, though,applicable to any loose sheet) by which leaves fmay be;f bound V11n book form.I l The Apresent binder contemplates the t employment 1 of specially` constructed anchors' by 'which the leaves `are secured,

y means for protectingthe anchored ends of the leaves `against direct contact withv the covers; o`f=special means for reinforcing the coversfof the binder; of special devices1'for locking the covers intheir open-position; ofspecialv meansfor preventing a collapse of they covers when the leaves havebeenab-4 stracted; otfspecial devices forrlocking the leaf-protectingplates 'ini position and there-l lng the back of the binder, a hinge-pin 4 beends which are subsequently bent across the l loopV opening and thereby prevent the drop- 4. (Fig. 10).

l follows :-Laid across the several arms a,

' away in parts to accommodate the arms a,

' sheet of cardboard c, the outer edges of A posite ends of the plate 1 proper are bent i layer m, covers the back 3 and the cardboard length of the terminal arms a, a, (Figi 9),

therebyforms with theplate 1 proper, an

, ance of the layer e being protected by a facing or lininglt. In this manner the plate layers, making a very stiff cover. yThe outer said shoulder not only imparting stiffness to theparts but serving a further purpose to be presently described. The outer edge of eachplate (there being two in number) is provided withV a series of loops 2 stamped and bent integral therewith, said loops alinin'g with a similar series of marginal loops 2l (Fig. 24) of the plate 3 constituting inserted through 'the series of loops and forming a well known form of joint. In they present construction the terminal loops 2, have struck therefrom lips 5 lat their outer ping out or shifting of the hinge-pin or rod The plates 1, 1, with their arms a, b, (whiclrin -practice reachabout one-half or two-thirds across the width of the covers) form the reinforcing and stiftening portions of the covers, the latter being in the main composed of card-board or its equivalent. The covers may be described as and of a thickness equal substantiallyto that of the offset s and for the full area` of the cover, is a layer of cardboard c whichy even surfaceover which is spread an outer layer of leather (o r its equivalent) m. VLaid upony the sheet c is a sheet "d, suitably cut b, said sheet being of the same thickness asy the arms and forming therewith an' even surfacel for the support of the inner layer or which are protected by the inwardly-turnedV edges of the leather m (Figs. 7, 8) the bal- 1 and its arms a, b Abecome completely embedded between the cardboard 'and leather margins of the terminal arms a and the opinwardly forming a U-shaped bend or bead 6 (Figs. 6, 10, 11), Vover which the leather cover mj is passed and folded, thus impartingstiff edges` to the covers. The leather covers and is brought over the layer c along the front edges of the covers as well as at the top and bottom the same as is shown for 1 the bottom in Fig. 8. A section taken through the front edge of the cover at right angles tothe section line 8 8 in Fig. 1 would give the saine illustration as is alf ready shown in Fig. 8, and there istherefore no necessity for repeating the same. It may be stated in passing that the several layers Wn, c, ,c, and t, are properly cemented to one another and to the plate 1 and its arms a, Z), formingv altogether stiff and durable covers, the layer fm, being likewise cemented to the plate 3 forming the back, and the whole constituting a serviceable binder for the loose leaves L confined within it.

The manner of ,securing the leaves in place is as follows z-Disposed in pairs and secured to the inner face of the back 3 are series of angle-brackets 7 (Figs. 1, 19, 20) the legs secured to the back being formed into a series of lobes, the other and adjacent pair of legsreceiving between them the web or wing 8 of an anchor head 9 disposed across the plate 3, the o posite ends of the head 9 terminating in reiduced extensions or bearings 10 thereby forming a shoulder r with the end of the head proper, at the base of said extension (Figs. 14, 15). These bearings 10 supportthe longitudinal marginally flanged leaf-holding and stiffening plates 11, each plate being provided with a series of rectangular openings O through which the extensions 10 are passed. The plates 11 are then locked in position by forked keys 12, each key being provided with a central resilient or spring tongue 13 as shown. The extensions 10 are provided with yopposite recesses or grooves 14, 14,

rthrough which the fork members of the key 12 are inserted, the spring tongue 13 being received by a terminal central recess or groove 15. Then the key has been inserted far enough to causel thebend 13 of the tongue (Fig. 16) to pass beyond the end of the groove 15, the key becomes automatically locked to the bearing 10 and thereby retains or locks the plate 11 against displacement. When the covers are closed, the anges of the plates 11 bear against the eX- posed portions of the cover plates 1, 1, (Fig. 5).K4 In practice one plate 11 (which serves not only as a stiifening member, but a leaf retaining and protecting member as well) is `first locked in position, after which the leaves L are passed .over the anchor-heads 9, the rear edges of the leaves being provided with recesses or cut-away portionsl A of the kproper shape (Fig. 27) to slip over the heads 9 and over the bases of the webs 8. When the required number of leaves have been strung on the heads 9, the opposite retainer plate 11 is placed in position, and the operation is completed.

It is desirable in practice, that when a cover is swung to an open position, it remain locked in such a position to prevent upper endofthe back 3 .is secured-.an angle` diately secured to the back being preferably formed into a series .of fingers :or lobesfas shown, the opposite-leg being disposed `at right angles tothe back orin aplane par.. allel. to the plane of oscillation of theacover.` On the leg projectingv at right vangles yfrom the back `3 is formed or stamped on opposite sides a ridge or. ribbed projection 171: (Figs. 24, 25, 2G). To each cover-plate-l and in proper relative position to theribbedileg of the bracket 16 issecureda bracket. 18 which has formed therewith a pair ofclips; or: resilient arms 19 f terminating fin bends adapted to engage theopposite respectively concave and conveX faces of therib 17. of the bracket 16. The -clips '19 =19, #are so mounted that for a closed position, of` the book their free ends point upward tothe. end of the back 3 (Fig. 4) butwhen a ,cover is swung open, the clips sweep across the leg ofthe bracket in such a, -way that by the time the cover is full open, .the bends t, .auto-l matica'lly andfforcibly engage the `rib 17H (Figs, 24, 25) and thus lock the .coverin itsl open position. Of course, ,the rounded edges of the rib and rounded bends fof the clips permit the part-sto .become dislodged without much effort whenoccasion arises to again close the cover. Onlyone cover-locks ing device is necessaryinpractice, this .be-, ing preferably located. at theA top of the book. At the `bottom a. similar` stiffening bracket 16 (Fig. 2) is secured, butwithout the ribs 17, its only purpose being to impart stiffness to the bottom .of the boolnaiidi-to lend symmetry to the `general construction ofthe binder. t v ,n

The locking-means for theleaf-retainiug plates 11, sliow1i.by.tlie key 12 not the only available method towvhich resort may be had, and in Figs. `28 to 38.1nclusive I illustrate two other forms.V Y In Figs. 28,129, is shown a web 8 provided with an anchorhead 9 having a screw-socket 20at each end passing through the extension 10. and for a suitable distance into the head. In that case the plate 11 is held in position by a screw 21 provided with a milled head to be operated by hand,` a-nd with agroove u for the insertion of a screw driver if desired. In Figs. 32 to 3S I show a web 8 provided with an anchor head 9 having a laterally opening pocket, cavity or chamber 22 at each end, said cavity being provided with opposite shoulders 23, behind which are adapted to automatically spring the resilient inembers or clamp-arms 24 when inserted into the cavity and subsequently released. The outer extensions 24- of the arms 24. diverge from one another and are stamped in such a way at their free ends as to leave elongated openings o, 0,- for the `insertion of the At the .bendbetween theqspring arms is riveted a tongue orplate the outer edge of which 1s provided withl dowels orpins 2G` which aressecured to a cap-piece 27 having terminal inwardly deflected tapering sides 27. the `edgesyof which are notched to receive the `outer edge ofthe tongue. The sides of .the tongue enteritherecesses `w formed in the edges of the opening of the plate 11y resting? on` the extension 10l of .theanchor head: gf. In4 practice, the capfpiec-e 27 may be seized bythe fingers, the tongue v passed through` the recesses to, `theinclined bases of the springs 24 readily yielding or closing with` the` inward movement of the parts intoithe pocket 22, andwhen the bends 2S' formed in the armshave.passed behind the ,shoulders 28, they .automatically spring behind them and thus lock the clamp in place. `To remove the clamp, .the operator `inserts his .thumb .and forefingerinto the openings o, o, compresses the springs 24- sufficiently toalhwthefbends 28 Ato pass fby the shoulders223a-nd pulls the clamp out'of the pocket.

VVhere a full vcomplement `of leaves is mounted on the anchors 9 between `the mem-` bers 11. 11, the anchored edges of the leaves are sufficiently compacted` to prevent. the leaves from `wabbling unduly when the book opened... `Whenhowever, a comparatively few leaves are in` the-binder .someprovision mustbe .made to hold the leaves attheir `fastened..edges sufficiently close ytogether to pre vent wabbling ofthe leaves andinevent their..separation,.when the book is thrown open. `To .this endI provide va movable spring controlled `take.- up y member or 1follower 80 (Figs 39mm), having recesses or openingsR by which it mayl be passedover the anchors 9 between the outer leafL of the .series and the adjacent Ilived' plate11, the.- follower'Y having :stamped v th erefro-m .out-y wardly flexed` resilient, or spring arms 31 whiclrbear.against the plate 11 serving as an abutment. and force the followerwell np. against the leaves, thereby crowding the anchored edges thereof close together' so that i they i m ay`l be.. effectively held.. against vwabbling or shifting when the covers are thrown open. Of course, the follower is slipped over the anchors before the plate 11 is finally locked in place.

In lieu of the follower 30 I may substitute a series of spacing strips 32 (Figs. 42,

43) which may be passed over the anchors l between each pair of leaves, and between the last leaf of the series and the adjacent stationary plate 11, a fact quite obvious from the drawings. The strips 32 are provided with recessed openings O by which rio lclaim is :-V

they are passed over the anchors 9. Of the first sheet and having portions removed course, where the strips 32 are used, dependencerls placed on the numbers of strips to accomplish the holding of the sheets, whereasl in usingthe follower 30 the sprii'lgs 3l are depended on. The spring follower however, is the preferable means of the two.

'As seen inFigs. 39 to 41 inclusive, the follower plate 3() is provided with marginal flanges 30, the width of the platebeing such as to permit the said flanges to embrace the opposite edges of theplate 11 when the follower has been crowded up against the plate by an approximately full complementk of leaves, interposed between it and the opposite plate 1l (dotted position Fig. 39.)v

' Having described my invention what I l. A loose-leaf binder comprising aback, members hinged thereto to form the covers, a series of ancho-r-heads disposed across the back between the covers and terminating in reduced extensions, a leaf protecting plate provided with opening for the insertion of the extensions whereby the plate rests .on the extensions and bears against the shoulder ,formed at the base of the extension, and keys carried at `the ends of the anchor-heads for locking the platesin position.

2. A' loose-leaf binder comprising a back,

Y covers hinged (thereto, a series of anchorheads ldisposed across the vback between the covers and terminatlng V1n reduced exten- Y sions, the latter being provided with opposite recesses, and a central termlnal groove,

a leaf-protecting and stiening member passed Vover the adjacent extensions at opposite ends of the several anchor-heads and shouldered against the heads, and keys provided with forks inserted into the recesses of the extensions, and resilient tongues'traversing the outer grooves thereof for locking the leafrotectin `members in osition.` P

3. A loose-'leaf binder comprising a back,

Y plates hinged to the sides thereof provided with a series of arms offset from the body of the plate and extending at right'angles 1 from t-he hinge-axis of the plate, a sheet of fabric laid over the arms the full depth of the off-set, a second sheet of fabric laid on Copies of this patent may be obtained for to accommodate thearms of the plate and of a thickness equal to that of the arms, a third sheet laid on the second sheet, a final facing on the last named sheet, and anouter sheet cover spread over ythe back and the first mentioned sheet of the series, the several sheets being cemented together, and means on the back for holding thereto a series of looseleaves, substantially as set forth.,

4. A loose-leaf binder comprising a back, covers hinged thereto, a bracket carried by the back, and disposed parallel to the plane of oscillation of the covers, and av member on thecover provided with means for gripping -the bracket when said cover is swung to open position and thereby locking the same.

5. A loose-leaf binder comprising a back, covers hinged thereto, a bracket carried at one end of the back and disposed parallel to the planes of oscillation of the covers, the sides of the bracket being provided each with a rib formation, a pair of resilient arms `or clips secured to the cover at a suitable point from the hinge axis thereof, said arms embracing the bracket and adapted to sweep across the rib formationk thereof, whereby upon the cover being swung to open position 1 the clip-arms grip the vrib on the bracket and lock the cover.

6. In a loose-leaf binder, aseries of anchors carrying leaves, stationaryv protecting members secured tothe opposite ends of the anchors, and a movable follower provided with flexed spring arms punched from the `body of the. follower and engaging the adacent protecting member, the opposite face of the follower engaging the leaves, the said follower being provided with marginal flanges on the side facing the spring arms for. embracing the edgesv of the protecting member when the follower has been crowded against itby a full complement of leaves.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature,

. in presence of two witnesses.

HAROLD B. BRISTOL.

Witnesses i EMiL STAREK, FANNIE E. WEBER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington. D. C. 

